meta-gets-more-time-on-whatsapp-username-issue

The Centre has extended until July 9 the deadline for Meta to respond to concerns over the proposed username feature on WhatsApp, giving the company three additional days to explain the privacy and security implications of the rollout.

 

A government official said the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) had earlier asked Meta to submit its response by July 6 after issuing a notice seeking a detailed explanation of the feature.

 

The proposed update would allow WhatsApp users to connect with others using unique usernames instead of sharing their mobile phone numbers. Meta has clarified that usernames will be distinct from display names, which appear on user profiles and need not be unique.

 

According to people familiar with the matter, the government has also asked Meta not to roll out the feature in India until consultations with the authorities are completed.

 

The move follows concerns raised by government agencies over the possibility of impersonation, phishing, online fraud and other cybercrimes if the feature is introduced without adequate safeguards.

 

An official in the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), speaking on condition of anonymity, said the proposed system could make it more difficult for law enforcement agencies to identify offenders involved in cybercrime.

 

"The larger issue is that it will become difficult for law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to determine whether the perpetrator is in India or overseas. Tomorrow, someone could create a WhatsApp account using a +1 (US) number, use the NIA chief's photograph, adopt a similar username and make fraudulent calls. Earlier, if the number began with +91, we could at least initiate action. If the number isn't available, there is virtually no way to resolve it," the official said.

 

The Centre had earlier asked Meta to explain why action should not be initiated under the Information Technology Act and related rules over the proposed feature, arguing that it could materially increase the risk of phishing, impersonation, digital fraud and so-called "digital arrest" scams.

 

The extension comes amid heightened regulatory scrutiny of Meta. Separately, the company has also been asked by MeitY to explain allegations relating to child sexual exploitative and abuse material (CSEAM) advertisements on Instagram.